My.gut.instinct

24 weeks with baby 🤍

It’s been pretty incredible to watch my body adapt to growing a tiny human especially when having a chronic illness + an ostomy.

I thought I would give you all a little update about what pregnancy has been like for me. ⬇️

So far, my stoma has stayed the same size and haven’t needed to make changes in my appliance. However, I expect that’ll change sometimes soon.

My Crohn’s has been quiet + I’ve been able to enjoy lots of food that normally I need to be careful with. But this week I may have gotten carried away with eating too many fruit at once + caused a small blockage but it has since passed on it own without needed any kind of medical attention or intervention.

Baby has been kicking up a storm lately and loves when I take a bath. Jay has felt baby’s movement over the last couple weeks + it’s been such a sweet thing to watch. 🥺🥰

I’m still on my medication but will stop them at 32 weeks + resume them again once baby is born.

I do see a high risk OB every 4 weeks because I have Crohn’s to make sure everything is progressing as it should. I also see the GI at the IBD pregnancy clinic every trimester to keep an eye on my IBD. I actually see her next week.

I really hope that the next 16 weeks will go as smoothly as possible, and stay away from any flares, major blockages and hospitalizations.

Baby is already loved by so many. We are so excited to meet baby in June.

Drop any questions you may have about pregnancy with IBD and/or an ostomy in the comments 💜 I’ll do my best to answer them.

A couple weeks ago, I was hospitalized because of severe dehydration.

It was a pretty scary experience. I finally decided I needed to seek medical help after 5 days of not leaving my bed/couch. I couldn’t stand for more than a few mins at a time without feeling faint, or being out of breath and felt like my heart was beating out of my chest. Jay told me that my eyes didn’t look well and my skin + face had little to no colour.

When I got to emerg, the nurse checking me in questioned me on how I knew I was dehydrated (what I wanted to say was um bc I just know 🤦🏼‍♀️) but I explained how I have an ostomy and how easily I can get dehydration—the colon is where salt + water is absorbed in the body.

Then she questioned me + asked if I was anxious because my heart rate was really high..like no girl! I just told you how severely dehydrated I felt and hospitals don’t make me anxious, they are like a second home to me. At this point, I was very annoyed that I was being dismissed even when I was advocating for what I knew my body needed.

I get this every time I go to emerg (hence why I waited so long to seek help) and it’s so frustrating when you need to advocate so hard when you already feel so awful. I even heard her whisper to another nurse after I left “she looks fine”. Yeah that’s why it’s called an invisible illness 🙄

Luckily, it was my GI who was on call that day so once he found out I was in emerg, he immediately came down to see me + advocated on my behalf. I got lots of IV fluids pumped back into me. Even after just one bag of fluids, jay told me my eyes looked better and my skin + face had some colour again.

When getting my ostomy surgery 3.5 years ago, I was warned about how dehydrated I could get with having an ileostomy. But not once was I told what to look for and what to do if it happened. So this was definitely a lesson learned + I will never let it go that far again.

Some symptoms of severe dehydration can be (and I had all of these):
▪️sunken eyes
▪️feeling faint, dizzy, disoriented
▪️rapid heart rate + breathing
▪️sleepiness + lack of energy

If you are experiencing these symptoms please get some medical attention. This is no joke!

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗕𝗗? IBD is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes the intestines to become inflamed. It is an invisible chronic illness and autoimmune disorder. This means that there is no cure and that it’s a lifelong illness. It also means that the immune system attacks the gut causing inflammation leading to bowel injury.

🔹𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝟮 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗕𝗗. Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis (UC).Crohn’s disease can involve the whole GI tract from mouth to a**s, where UC is limited to the colon.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝗕𝗗? The actual cause of IBD is unknown. It is believed that many different factors may come into play, such as:

▪️Genetics + heredity 👨‍👩‍👧
▪️ Environmental factors 🌾
▪️Viruses + bacteria 🦠

🔹 𝗜𝗕𝗗 𝘀𝘆𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘀. Symptoms vary from patient to patient.Someone with IBD will have periods of 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯, where the disease is controlled with minimal side effects. There’s also periods of 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘶𝘱𝘴 where the disease is active and side effects can vary from mild to severe. These symptoms may include:

▪️abdominal cramping, bloating, pain
▪️diarrhea
▪️severe urgency or incontinence
▪️fever
▪️joint pain
▪️rapid weight loss
▪️loss of appetite, nausea
▪️dehydration, rapid heart rate
▪️hair loss
▪️iron deficiency/anemia due to loss of blood in stool

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗕𝗗 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱? The goal of treatment is to reduce the inflammation.This could lead into symptom relief but also long-term remission and reduced risks of complications. Treatment usually involves drug therapy and/or surgery.💊

Remember to always consults your GI if there’s anything changes in your symptoms and if your disease progresses. Download the APP to monitor your symptoms (Link in bio ⬆️)

The goal of this post is to raise awareness for IBD. 𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰? Canada has some of the highest rates of IBD in the world 🌍 🇨🇦 chances are you know or have someone in your life that suffers from IBD. I hope that if you read to the end that you can 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦, 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 this with a loved one who might be newly affected by these invisible diseases. 💜 Let’s kick IBD where it hurts 👊🏼

𝘏𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘖𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘺 𝘋𝘢𝘺, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘖𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 💜💩

For anyone that’s new here. I’ve been an ostomate since April 2018. I have a temporary ileostomy due to Crohn’s disease. I didn’t receive emergency surgery but in fact, I advocated to have the surgery. After exceeded all medication and basically rotting away, I begged for surgery. I thought anything would be better (even an ostomy) than living the hell I was living without one. My wish was finally granted ✨

This day always makes me reflect on this “dreaded” + “last resort” surgery that has improved my quality of life so much over the last 3.5 years. It wasn’t an easy journey leading up to my ostomy. It was actually some of my hardest and darkest days.

I was so excited and eager for surgery that I adapted well and quickly to ostomy life. I was just happy to be living pain free + away from a toilet for more than 30 mins at a time. Not everyday is easy with an ostomy but I make them work + try not to dwell on the things I can’t control.

My ostomy rocked my world in all the right ways, and in ways I never imagined. Since gaining my stoma, I have never felt more like myself before.

My ostomy has given me so much.

𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺, 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩, 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴, 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵, 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘴, 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵, 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘥.

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪?

A 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 about having an ostomy is that there’s this notion that ostomies are only for the elderly. Which is completely false ❌

Ostomies are not only for the elderly but they are for 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀.

𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 , 𝘰𝘭𝘥, 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯, 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯. You name it. Someone could need an ostomy at any age because of several different reasons (IBD, cancer, spina bifida to name a few).

But it doesn’t mean that if you are a young person with an ostomy that you can’t lead a successful and full life. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Ostomies give back life to people who have suffered so long in their bodies and with their illness.

So when I tell you I have an ostomy please don’t feel bad for me because “𝘐’𝘮 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘺” but feel happy for me that 𝙸’𝚖 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚗 𝚘𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚖𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸’𝚖 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚜𝚞𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝 💜😘

Reunited with my mama after 2 years of being apart has never felt so good💛✨

Last time she was here visiting it was in 2018 when I was having my ostomy surgery. She came out for my surgery, to help with every step of the way. I really don’t know what I would have done without her help and just support and humour to get me through the first days and weeks of recovery in the hospital and then adjusting at home once discharged.

We change my first bag together, literally 💩 flying across the bathroom, taking an hour and my mom doesn’t blink + isn’t fazed in the slightest. 🥇

I’m looking forward to our visit this time around, where I won’t be recovering from major surgery. Hopefully, we will able to do some fun things together since I’ve been feeling some improvements when it comes to my stricture and being able to eat and manage my pain over the past week. 🙌🏻

𝙷𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚢 𝙼𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚊𝚢 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚜 🌸 𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚒𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝙼𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚎🥰